Dietary Aide Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post presents detailed information on the dietary aide job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the dietary aide role by most recruiters/employers.

What Does a Dietary Aide Do?

A dietary aide is responsible for providing dietary support to patients with severe and persistent illnesses.

The dietary aide job description entails ensuring that the patient is fed according to their individual diet and medical needs.

It also involves dispensing medications into food for patients who cannot swallow them and cleaning and maintaining of the kitchen or food preparation area of the facility.

This job requires a background in food service or kitchen assistance.

Health care professionals are always in need of nutritional support for their patients. For this purpose the dietary attendant is required to deliver food and drinks to patients in the appropriate manner, regardless of the patient’s condition.

They are prompt in determining the patient’s size, weight, and other physical features necessary for proper feeding.

It is also the dietary aide duties to perform sanitation and cleanliness of their own personal work station, including utensils and equipment that are necessary for service.

The dietary aide work description involves managing tasks within a timely manner according to the protocols established by their employer, as well as any state or local laws.

A dietary aide may also be required to make minor repairs to food trays, stoves, ovens, refrigerators or other equipment that may break down during working hours.

They are required to abide by all institutional policies and procedures, federal and state laws, as well as the safety requirements of their workplace.

Additionally, they report any observed deficiencies of the kitchen such as food shortages and broken equipment to management as soon as possible in order to prevent further problems.

Adherence to all company policies is one of the most important tasks of the dietary staff member.

They work in cooperative relationship with other employees at the facility, especially with nursing staff.

They are also in charge of their own safety, as well as that of others and the environment in which they operate.

Dietary Aide Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The dietary aide job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Provides two (2) hours of direct patient care and two (2) hours of indirect patient care per eight-hour shift
• Initiates meal trays by arranging, rearranging, and clearing all food service equipment, in accordance with operative policies and procedures; ensuring all items are properly stocked, replenished and in good repair
• Prepares menu items according to laws, regulations, and policies of the State; prepares all menu items according to established portion size or requirements; weighs and measures ingredients during preparation
• Prepares beverages, such as coffee, tea, or other appropriate beverage requests according to operational policy; cleans cups and utensils following preparation procedures
• Observes patient’s food service tray in accordance with policy and procedures; records specific observations on tray observation record; notifies supervisor of any food item that is not appealing or uneatable
• Prepares “to go” trays for patients who do not have an appetite, are restless or cannot tolerate food due to medical reasons; arranges the foods according to the patient’s specified choices; notifies supervisor if tray has been rejected
• Prepares meals of special diets for patients based on diet orders as prescribed by a physician, registered dietitian or dietetic technician from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
• Prepares special diets as prescribed by a physician, registered dietitian or dietetic technician from the IDHS
• Reports all lost or stolen items to the supervisor
• Assists in the operation of all kitchen equipment, including, but not limited to cooking equipment, dish machine, prep machines, dispensing machines, and table mixers.

Dietetic Aide Job Description for Resume

If you have worked before as a dietary aide or are presently working in that role and are making a  new resume or CV, then you can create a compelling Professional Experience section for your resume by applying the sample dietary aide job description provided above.

You can highlight the duties and responsibilities you have performed or are presently performing in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones in the above dietary aide job description example.

This will show that you have been successful performing the dietary aide job, which can greatly enhance your chances of being hired for the new position that you are seeking, especially if it requires someone with some dietary aide work experience.

Dietary Aide Requirements: Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge for Career Success

Here are major requirements candidates may be expected to meet to be hired for the dietary aide role:

Ability to:

• Interpret, follow and enforce policies and procedures as presented in the orientation and supervisory training
• Use good judgment and common sense when dealing with stressful situations
• Prepare food according to standardized portions while maintaining quality by using portion control utensils
• Work with and care for the elderly and/or disabled patients by adhering to individualized needs
• Assist in transferring patients; operate, service, clean and maintain a variety of kitchen equipment and supply items; operate appropriate computerized equipment
• Understand, follow and adhere to policies regarding sanitation of personnel, patients, materials and equipment
• Properly sanitize utilizing sanitizer materials as directed by the nursing home or extended care facility policy
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with employees and visitors.

Knowledge of:

• Safe lifting procedures based on ability for lifting up to 25 pounds, including an understanding of the correct body mechanics associated with lifting
• The proper use of equipment associated with the preparation, serving, and eating of meals in a nursing home or extended care facility
• Proper product placement on plates, trays, etc.

Dietary Aide Job Salary

The annual total pay for a dietary aide in the United States is $48,503, with an average salary of $29,610 according to Glassdoor.

Conclusion

The dietary aide job is an entry-level position for people to get into the health care industry.

The job does not require any higher education, and is based on simple day-to-day tasks.

This is a good first job for someone that wants to learn through experience before moving up the ladder.

The job can be stressful at times and the job description may seem long, but it is not difficult to complete your tasks if you know what you are doing and if you follow orders correctly.

This post is beneficial to individuals interested in the dietary aide career. They will be able to learn all they need to know about what dietary aides do, to decide if that’s the career they want to get into.

It is also helpful to recruiters/employers in creating a detailed job description for the dietary aide position for use in hiring competent individuals for the role.